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Ropes: Wilderness Program for Teens

Interested in Ropes: Wilderness Program for Teens?

Need Financial Aid? Click here.

Wild Earth now offers an Equitable Pricing Calculator that uses a sliding scale model.

This will provide the opportunity for families to determine what they can afford to pay, based on their family's unique financial situation.

It also provides the opportunity for families who can afford it, to make an additional contribution to help offset the cost of tuition for families in need.

Before registration, please calculate your tier with the Equitable Pricing Calculator.

Still need additional aid?
  • Please register for your suggested tier, and
  • Contact our finance director to request additional aid.

  • Payment Plan Details:

    Deposit of $150 due with registration. Remaining balance can be split into 4 monthly payments of $407.5.

    Click here to view our updated safety procedures & policies.

    For:

    High School aged teens

    Dates:

    *Please review updated locations below to know where programs are taking place
    7 Saturday evening programs plus a 1-night overnight in the Fall, and a 2-night overnight in the Spring

      • Sat, September 14, 2024: Stone Mountain Farm
      • Sat, October 26-27 2024: Clove Valley
        • 1-night overnight, Saturday 9:30AM drop-off
      • Sat, November 16, 2024: Rock Haven Road
      • Sat, December 7, 2025: Rock Haven Road
      • Sat, January 11, 2025: Rock Haven Road
      • Sat, February 22, 2025: Rock Haven Road
      • Sat, March 22, 2025: Rock Haven Road
      • Sat, April 5, 2025: Location TBD*
      • Fri-Sun, May 2-4, 2025: Clove Valley
        • 2-night overnight, Friday 3PM drop-off

    Hazardous Weather Make-Up Days:

    • Sat, February 1, 2025: Rock Haven Road
    • Sat, May 31, 2025: Location TBD

    Times:

    Saturdays: Evening program 

    3PM: Drop Off*

    3–9:00PM: Program

    9:00: Pick Up* 

    *Please note: Drop off and pick up times for this program are no longer “rolling;” please arrive at the specified time.

    For the Overnights:

    • 1-Night Overnight: Morning drop-off Saturday at 9:30AM; pickup on Sunday at 11am
    • 2-Night Overnight: Evening drop-off Friday at 3pm; pickup on Sunday at 11am

    Cost:

    $1,780 for 24-25 Program, payment plans and financial aid available. Please indicate financial aid needs when you register, we encourage families to apply for any amount of aid needed.

    Our Locations:

    • Stone Mountain Farm: 310 River Rd Ext, 310 River Rd Exd, New Paltz, NY 12561
    • Rock Haven Road: 175 Rock Haven Road, Kerhonkson, NY 12446
    • Clove Valley: 600 Clove Valley Rd, High Falls, NY 12440
    • *Most likely Stone Mountain Farm, might be at another location within 20 miles of High Falls

    Due to the unusual rattlesnake activity and behavior we have observed at our land in Kerhonkson, we will be taking a break from regular programming there when snakes are active as we create an assessment process to inform our next steps.

    Additional Questions?

    Drop us an email or give us a call and we'll be happy to answer your questions.
    hello@wildearth.org
    (845) 256-9830

    Ropes: Wilderness Program for Teens

    Ropes is a dinner party in the woods. It’s a deep conversation. It’s a ”plan-your-own adventure” experience for teens in their high school years.

    Ropes will be continuing with an evening schedule again this year for the 24-25 program!

    What is Ropes About?

    The name “Ropes” is a recognition that every life on this planet is interwoven with every other. Indeed, ever since the first Ropes program fifteen years ago, Ropes has prioritized the building and fostering of relationships: Our relationships with the more-than-human world support our relationships with one another, and those in turn support relationships outside of Wild Earth. At Ropes, two things are always true: (1). Every participant is celebrated in the group exactly as they are, and (2). Every participant has ample space and encouragement to surprise themself–perhaps by taking on increased levels of agency and responsibility, by accessing newfound forms of creativity, or just by daring to let loose and get silly. 

    What makes Ropes distinct from other Wild Earth programs is that the participants are an active part of the planning and facilitation of each session. We recognize that teenagers arrive to Ropes with a strong sense of who they are and what they want, and we also know that many participants come having already been a Wild Earth Counselor-in-Training or having had jobs and significant responsibilities elsewhere. For this reason, we view the relationship between instructors and participants at Ropes as a collaboration: The teens offer their visions for the program, and instructors offer skilled support and guidance in making those visions possible. Ultimately, what emerges is a group experience that reflects the unique contributions of each participant.  

    Here is what we know: 

    • We will gather in the woods for 7 Saturday nights and 2 overnights (one 1-night overnight in the fall; one 2-night overnight in the spring)
    • There will be a fire
    • Sometimes we’ll make meals together over the fire
    • There will be games
    • There will be conversation 

    What we don’t yet know and is for the participants to decide is*: 

    • How often we’ll cook and what we’ll make!
    • What games we’ll play!
    • What we’ll discuss! 
    • What else we’ll do (Will we take on long-form projects? Go on epic night hikes? Play running games for hours on end?)

    A monthly party in the woods may seem like a simple premise, but as teenagers well understand, it takes a lot of courage to show up to a party–and even more courage to plan one! Yet as with any party, the hope is that an evening spent just being in the company of others will make the rest of the week that much better. 

    *A note for participants: If the thought of having to make all these decisions feels intimidating, don’t fret! The first couple sessions will be planned by Wild Earth staff so that you can ease into your decision making. 

    Values: 

    1. Relationship and belonging, with one another and with the environment
      1. Respect and reciprocity
      2. Communication and listening 
    2. Agency and leadership
      1. Awareness and self-discovery
    3. Play-based learning 
      1. Joy and laughter 
      2. Creative problem-solving

    Testimonials:

    Ropes is a self-lead program that’s given me a bigger sense of responsibility and courage. Being part of Ropes has taught me a lot about nature and survival skills, but has also brought me closer to the friends I’ve met here.”

    “Ropes gives me a healthy escape from high school. I get to be around grounded people who are close to my age, and who have a lot of wisdom to share. It’s nice to have a supportive community to go to each month throughout the school year.”

    “For me it was one of the most intense and meaningful experiences I have ever had. Ropes allowed me to look deeper and to escape my everyday high school life and figure out things I wouldn’t have been able to comprehend without the guidance of everyone around me. The skills I learned are incredibly valuable and will stay with me for the rest of my life.”


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